AFFI Elects New Board Leadership

The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) has elected four officers and nine members to its board of directors. The elections took place Feb. 20 at the AFFI Annual Meeting in San Diego held in conjunction with the 2012 AFFI Frozen Food Convention.

The new officers are George Smith, president and CEO of Stayton, Ore.-based farmer cooperative and fruit and vegetable processor NORPAC Foods Inc., as chairman; Jeff Varcoe of the Marshall, Minn.-based Schwan Food Co. as first vice chairman; Dave Yanda of Manitowoc, Wis.-based private label food processor Lakeside Foods Inc. as second vice chairman; and Mark Dunn of the Boise, Idaho-based agribusiness J.R. Simplot Co. as immediate past chairman.

The nine board members elected are Larry Cope of Buhl, Idaho-based Clear Springs Foods; Andy Dahlen of Minneapolis-based General Mills Inc.; Wesley Eubanks of The Pictsweet Co. in Bells, Tenn.; Greg Evans of Lisle, Ill.-based McCain Foods USA; Ed Flanagan of Millbridge, Maine-based Jasper Wyman & Son Inc.; Steve Lezman of Chicago-based Tropicana Products; Tom Madden of Jerome, Idaho-based Rite Stuff Foods; Mike McEvoy of Plymouth, Wis.-based Sargento Foods Inc.; and Joe Pacinelli of North East, Pa.-based Better Baked Foods Inc.

“Each of the individuals brings a wealth of industry expertise and leadership, which will aid AFFI in its continuing efforts to serve the needs of a dynamic and growing membership,” said Kraig R. Naasz, president and CEO of McLean, Va.-based AFFI.